Teacher Loses Job, Opens 3 Classrooms in 4 Years

Losing your job during a pandemic would crush most people, but for one South African teacher, it became the spark for something bigger.

Mthwakazi Nancy Soqaka spent 15 years teaching in Khayelitsha before COVID shutdowns cost her the position in 2021. Instead of leaving education behind, she started Grow Buddies Preschool from scratch.

The early days ran on passion alone. But as enrollment grew, Soqaka realized she needed more than teaching skills to keep the doors open.

That's when she joined Grow ECD's six-week Business Accelerator Programme. The nonprofit helps early learning centers transition from struggling projects into sustainable businesses.

"That training changed my mindset," Soqaka says. "It gave me the courage to think bigger and plan properly."

She learned to track finances digitally, set proper fee systems, and manage operations like a true business owner. The mentorship didn't stop at spreadsheets. Grow ECD also helped strengthen her curriculum planning and child assessment methods.

The results showed up fast. Parents noticed their children's confidence and language skills soaring. One parent, Tumelo Leballo, watched her daughter go from speaking only Xhosa to becoming fluent in English within two years.

"We never expected this level of development," Leballo says. "We are incredibly proud of Grow Buddies."

Quality attracted demand. Within months, the waiting list grew so long that Soqaka had no choice but to expand.

Funding from Grow ECD helped refurbish a second property for Grow Buddies 2. Breadline SA added a classroom container at the original site. Together, the three spaces now serve 53 children across Khayelitsha.

The Ripple Effect

Soqaka's story matters beyond one successful school. Tracey Chambers, co-founder of Grow ECD, says it proves what happens when communities treat preschools as real businesses instead of informal projects.

"If we are serious about reaching more children with quality early learning, we have to support these centers properly," Chambers explains. Financial sustainability means centers can keep growing year after year, reaching more families who need affordable, quality care.

Soqaka now employs multiple staff members in a community where jobs remain scarce. Each classroom represents not just learning space, but livelihoods and opportunity.

Her next dream? A full education campus with outdoor play areas and schooling through Grade 7. "I know my dream will come true," she says.